LOVE SONGS (LES CHANSONS D’AMOUR) (Christophe Honoré, France). 95 minutes. Subtitled. Friday (May 16), 7:30 pm, ROM. Rating: NN
After his girlfriend (Ludivine Sagnier) dies suddenly, the insouciant, shaggy-haired Ismaël (Louis Garrel) finds his personal life spiralling out of control. The girlfriend’s sister (Chiara Mastroianni) starts hanging around his apartment, his female co-worker and former ménage à trois partner (Clotilde Hesme) finds someone else, and a cute young male student (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet) won’t take non for an answer.
Christophe Honoré (Ma Mère) effectively captures the ironic edge of the hookup generation, French division, but it’s hard to feel sympathy for these characters. He’s sprinkled the film with songs, but composer Alex Beaupain is no Michel Legrand, and Honoré lacks the charm of a Jacques Demy.
Nice footage of Paris, however.
